Mail-box



I No. 6ll,683. Patented Oct. 4, I898. F. D. GRAPENGETEB.

MAIL Box.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

FRITZ D. GRAPENGETER, OF DAVENPORT, IOIVA.

MA lL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,683, dated October 4, 1898.

Application filed April 29,1898. Serial No. 679,217. (No model.)

1'0 0 64 w/tom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRITZ D. GRAPENGETER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in mail-boxes and it consists in a mail-box having an outwardly flared or turned flange or collar around each of the openings in the box for the insertion or removal of the mail, combined with a cover which normally rests against the side of the box around the flange or collar, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a mail-box which is so constructed that no rain or snow can possibly get into the box and thus injure the mail deposited therein.

Figures-1 and 2 are end views of a mail-box which embodies my invention, the views being taken from different ends. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the upper portion of the box.

A represents a mail or letter box,which may be of any desired shape, size, or construction that may be preferred and which has an opening B through one end for the insertion of the mail and a suitable opening 0 through the other end for the removal of the mail from the box by the person. Extending all the way around both of these openings are the flanges or collars D, which are flared outwardly all around, so that in case any moisture should by any possibility enter the collar or flange it will have a tendency to drop off at the outer lower edge instead of running into the box. These flanges or collars are made of a width sufficient to prevent moisture from readily entering, and in case any moisture should condense inside of the col lars or flanges it will drop down to the lower side and run off the outer edge.

Formed integral therewith or attached to the box in any suitable manner are the ears G, between which the upper ends of the covers H are pivoted. These covers correspond to the shape of the openings made in the box and their depth is proportioned to the collar or flange formed around the openings. Normally these covers rest against the ends of the box,so that in case any snow or moisture should get insideof the covers it would not be able to reach the openings on account of the surrounding flanges. The cover which incloses the opening for depositing the mail remains closed from its own gravity,and owing to the projecting flange on the end of the box above the ears G this cover will never remain open when left free to close. The cover which surrounds the opening 0 may have a window inserted therein so that a person can look into the box to see whether there is any mail therein, and to this cover the lock will be applied in theusual manner to prevent the cover from being opened by any other one than a person who has the key therefor.

The great trouble with most of the mailboxes is that suitable protection is not afforded the openings in the box to prevent rain or snow from finding access and thus greatly injuring or destroying the, mail that is placed .therein. My invention is designed to overcome this objection and to provide the most perfect protection for the mail after it is dropped into the box.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A mail-box provided with a deposit-opening at or near the top of one of its ends, and provided with an outwardly-flared flange around this deposit-opening, and a larger collectionopening through its opposite end and nearer to the center than the deposit-opening, and which collection-opening is also provided with an outwardly-flared flange, combined with pivoted cup-shaped covers for each of the openings, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRITZ D. GRAPENGETER.

Witnesses:

M. A. BLAIR, E. O. SUsEMIHL. 

